Carrying means for office machine



Sept. 4, 1951 R. E. BOYDEN CARRYING MEANS FOR OFFICE MACHINE Filed Oct. 4, 1949 Elli-5-1- INVENTOR Roaserf. Barns/v 3.; A BY ELE ATTORNEY iatented Sept. 4, 1 951 CARRYING MEANS FOR OFFICE MACHINE Robert E. Boyden, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Clary Multiplier Corporation, San Gabriel, Calif., a corporation of California Application October 4, 1949, Serial No. 119,517

This invention relates to ofiice machines such as adding, calculating, check writing; stencgraphic and the like machines, and has particular reference to an arrangement for transporting such machines.

Oflice machines of the so-called portable type are intended to be, and generally are, often carried from place to place to be used in different places or by different operators. Although such machines are light enough to be carried by a single person, their bulk and contour often leaves much to be desired in regard to the necessity of carrying the same.

To facilitate carrying such machines, carrying cases have heretofore been provided, having handles thereon for carrying purposes. However, such carrying cases take up space and are often in the way since, normally, their use is only needed when the machine is to be carried.

It therefore becomes the principal object of the present invention to facilitate carrying an office machine of the above type.

Another object is to provide carrying handles for an ofiice machine, which handles are permanently carried thereby and which, when not in use, are rendered inconspicuous and out of the way of the operator.

Another object is to provide carrying handles for an office machine, which handles are mounted on the machine independently of the machine cover or housing.

Another object is to provide carrying handles for an office machine, in which the machine cover or housing is removable independently of the handles.

Another object is to provide retractable transporting handles for an office machine which, when in transporting position, are rigid with the machine so as to eliminate any free swinging of the latter while being transported.

The manner in which the above and other objects of the invention are accomplished will be readily understood on reference to the following specification when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of an adding machine embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 22 of Fig. 4 and illustrating the pivotal connection for the carrying handles.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 4 and illustrating the means for attaching the housing to the machine chassis.

. that the machine may 7 Claims. (Cl. 235-1) Fig. 4 is a side view of the machine with parts in section. 7

As is shown particularly in Fig. 1, the machine is illustrated as an adding machine embodying a series of depressible keys H for the purpose of entering selected amounts and for conditioning and controlling the computing and operating mechanisms as desired. A rotatable platen I2 is provided adjacent the rear of the machine to carry a paper strip past a printing mechanism (not shown) for the purpose of recording various factors and amounts on the paper strip. It is to be understood, however, be of the ten key type (as shown) or the full key keyboard type, either hand driven or motor driven, and may alternatively be a calculating machine, check writer or the like since the present invention is not limited to any particular type of keyboard equipped ofiice machine but can be applied to any of the above types with equal advantages.

Generally, in all such machines, however, the computing and operating mechanisms thereof are carried by a machine frame or chassis generally indicated at I3. In the present instance, the frame I3 comprises a floor plate M and sides [5 integral therewith. End braces, one of which is partially shown at i6 (Fig. 4) extend across and are secured to the ends of the frame sides l5, thus forming a rigid boxlike frame unit for containing and supporting the operating mechanisms. Since the latter mechanisms are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention they have been omitted from the present disclosure.

A housing ill! of plastic or similar material extends over the machine proper, having an opening l8 in the top thereof through which the keys ll extend, permitting the latter to be selectively depressed by the operator. The housing includes a skirt or sides [9 which extend downwardly therearound to cover at least the major part of the chassis.

The housing l'lll is removably secured to the chassis [3 through brackets 20 (Fig. 4) attached to the frame sides l5. Screws 2| removably secure the housing to the brackets 20 from the under side of the former so as to be invisible from the exterior of the machine. The latter screws may be removed by a screwdriver extended through suitable openings (not shown) formed in the floor plate l4.

Feet 22 of rubber or the like are mounted on the floor plate II to support the machine.

- According to the present invention, carrying a handles, generally indicated at 42, are provided for carrying the machine from place to place. These handles are permanently mounted on the machine and are retractable to positions within wells I45 formed in the housing I!!! so as to lie flush with the upper surface of the housing and thus present an unbroken surface which will be inconspicuous and will not catch the operators fingers or fingernails while operating the ma,- chine. Also, the handles, although extending over the platen housing ilil, are pivotally carried by the chassis, thus reducing the possibility of breaking the plastic housing material while carrying the machine.

The handles are U-shaped in form and comprise rigid legs 43 of strip metal wrapped at their outer ends around and permanently attached to oval rods 44 forming the handles proper. The inner free ends of the various legs 43 extend through openings M3 in the housing I10 and are each pivoted on a frame pin 45 extending between transverse frame plates 46 and 47. For the latter purpose, bearing pieces I42 are suitably secured, as by welding, to the legs 43 and partially surround the associated pin 45. The plates 48 and 4'! are provided with tenons 4.8 fitting within openings in the sides 15 of the machine chassis to thus hold the plates rigid with the chassis.

;It will be noted that the handles .42 straddle the keyboard and that the inner pivoted ends ofthe legs 43 are located adjacent the longitudina1 centerline of the machine but the legs of one handle are spaced apart laterally from the legs of the other handle for reasons to-be described presently. It will also be noted that the .handle rods 44 when in their retracted positions fit partially into concave Wells I44 which reduces the projection of the handles beyond the sides of the housing but still enables the handles to be readily grasped when preparing to swing them into their extended carrying positions shown by the dotted lines 4211 (Fig. .2). The handles 42 are normally held in retracted positions by a spring I46 tensioned be- ..tween feet I41 extending at right angles to the legs 43 proper and into the housing.

.Asthe handles 42 are moved to their upper carrying-positions, the feet I47, each engages an ear I48 extending inwardly from one or the other of the adjacent frame plates 46 and 4?, thereby limiting movement of the handles beyond this carrying position wherein the handles extend vertically, in parallel, spaced apart relation, to each other. Thus, when the operator grasps the handles, in order to carry the machine, the handles will .form arigidunitand will act as an .integral part or an extension of,the .machine, so as .to eliminate any free swinging or pendulum action while the machin is being carried.

Upon releasing the handles, .thespring I46 will become effective to return the sameinto their retractedpositlons.

In order to permit removal and replacement .of .the housing .ilil withoutremoving the handles .42, slotsor-openings 5% (Fig. 1) are providediniihe .1209 f the housing between the openings l43and -.the keyboardopening i8. Thus, when.it is de- .siredto remove the housin the handles 42. are

- swung upward to their carryingpositions where- :nponthe outer pQltlons of each of thehandlerods Z44 become aligned with the openings. 50 so that the housing may be raised vertically off of the chassis.

From the foregoing description, itcanbeseen Ethat the :machine, in effect, becomes its own 4 carrying case, thereby eliminating the necessity of using a carrying case or other accessory in order to easily transport the machine from place to place.

Having thus described the invention, what I desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In an ofiice machine, the combination of a machine chassis, a housing for said chassis, said housing extending over the top and sides of said chassis, means mounting said housing on said chassis, a pair of U-shaped carrying handles, and means at the top of said chassis pivotally carrying said handles adjacent their free ends and with saidfree ends spaced apart from each other, said handles extending through openings in said housing, said housing havin wells in the top thereof communicating with said openings to normally receive said handles, and said handles being pivotal from retracted positions wherein they extend outwardly substantially in the plane of the .upper surface of said housing to carrying positions wherein they extend upwardly from said housing.

2. in .an office machine, the combination of a machine chassis, a housing for said chassis, said housing extending over the top and sides of said chassis, means mounting said housing on said phassis, a Pair of U-shaped carrying han les, means at the top of said c assis p votally carrying said handles adjacent their free .ends and with said free ends of one of said handles spaced apart from said free ends of the other of said handles, said handles extending through openings in said housing, said houslng having wells in the top thereof communicating with said open.- ings to normally receive said handles, andsaid handles being pivotal from retracted positions wherein they extend outwardly substantially in the plane of ,theupper surface of said housing to carrying positions wherein they extend upwardly from said housing, and means for maintaining said handles in spaced apart relation when in said carrying positions.

3. In an oiiice machine, the combination of a machinechassis a housing carried by said chassis and extending over the top and sides of said chassis, a pair of Ushaped carrying handles, means on said chassis pivotally carrying said handles adjacent their free ends, said handles extendingthrough openings in said housing, said housing having wells in the upper surface thereof communicating with said openings to normally receive said handles, the opposite ends of said handlesextending outwardlybeyond the sides of said housing, and said handles beingpivotal upwardlyinto carrying positions.

4. In an ofiice machine, the combination with a machine chassis, a housing carried by said chassis and extending over the top and sides of said chassis, and a keyboard carried by said chassisandextending through an opening in said housing; of apair of u-shaped carrying handles, means on said chassis pivotally carrying said handles adjacent their free ends and with said free ends of one of said handles spaced apart from said free ends of the. other of said handles, said legs of each of .said handles straddling a part of said keyboard, said handles extending through openings in said housing, said housing having wells in-the top thereof communicating with said openings to normally receive said handles, and said handles being pivotal from retracted positions wherein they extend outwardly substantially in the plane of the upper ll ZiQce of said housing to carrying positions wherein they extend upwardly from said housing.

5. In an office machine, the combination of a machine chassis, a housing for said chassis, means mounting said housing on said chassis, a pair of U-shaped carrying handles, and means on said chassis pivotally carrying said handles adjacent their free ends and with said free ends of one of said handles spaced apart from said free ends of the other of said handles, said handles extending through openings in said housing, said housing having wells in the top thereof communicating with said openings to receive said handles, and said handles being pivotal from retracted positions wherein they extend outwardly in proximity to the surface of said housing to carrying positions wherein they extend upwardly from said housing, means on each of said handles forming an extension located below said housing, and a spring tensioned between said extensions for urging said handles into said retracted positions.

6. In an office machine, the combination with a machine chassis, and a keyboard carried by said chassis; of a pair of carrying handles, said handles each comprising a handle element and a pair of legs integral at one end of each thereof with one of said handle elements; means on said chassis pivotall carrying said handles adjacent the free ends of said legs thereof, said legs of each of said handles straddling said keyboard, and said free ends of said legs of one of said handles being spaced apart from said free ends of said legs of the other of said handles, said handles being pivotal from a retracted position wherein they extend outwardly relative to each other to a carrying position wherein they extend upwardly from said chassis, and means carried by said chassis for maintaining the outer ends of said handles in spaced apart relation to each other when in said carrying positions.

7. In an oflice machine, the combination with a machine chassis, a housing carried by said chassis and extending over the top and sides thereof, and a keyboard carried by said chassis and extending through an opening in said housing; of a pair of carrying handles, said handles each comprising a handle element and a pair of legs integral at one end of each thereof with one of said handle elements; means on said chassis pivotally carrying said handles adjacent the free ends of said legs thereof with said free ends in spaced apart relation to each other, said legs extending through openings in said housin and said legs of each of said handles straddling a part of said keyboard, said housing having wells in the upper surface thereof communicating with said openings to normally receive said handles, said handles being pivoted from a retracted position wherein they extend substantially flush with the upper surface of said housing to a carrying position wherein they extend upwardly from said housing, and means on each of said handles forming an extension located below said housing, said extensions being adapted to engage a part of said chassis upon movement of said handles to said carrying positions whereby to maintain said handles in spaced apart relation with each other.

ROBERT E. BOYDEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,230,443 Balster Feb. 4, 1941 2,311,928 Buehler Feb. 23, 1943 2,432,365 Allen Dec. 9, 1947 2,467,471 Goldstein Apr. 19, 1949 

